Dad Coached Kids To Set Ex-Wife’s House On Fire

Raymond Taylor taught his two children an unusual lesson: how to disable a smoke detector, set a fire, turn on a gas stove and escape through a partially raised garage door.

The motive: kill Mom.

Taylor was convicted Thursday of coercing his 10-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter into setting the home of their mother, his ex-wife, on fire last May.

She was not injured. Her husband, however, was burned on his feet and legs, and their 5-year-old son suffered smoke inhalation. Damage to the house was estimated at $40,000.

Taylor faces up to 99 years in prison for the attempted capital murder and arson convictions. The jury was expected to continue deliberating his punishment today.

Taylor’s two children by his ex-wife, Josie Garmon, testified that he had shown them how to set the blaze. The boy, who often visited Taylor on weekends, said his father had him practice lighting fires in a can.

Asked by the prosecutor if his father had ever explained what would happen, the boy replied: “The gas and the fire would blow up the house.”

Both children pleaded guilty to arson and were sentenced to 12 months probation and 100 hours of community service. They are currently living in foster homes.